Abu Suleiman, the leader of the rebel group of fighters named after him, hired a bomb maker known as “Abdallah” to make a pipe bomb, with which they planned to cut the road access to their mountainous stronghold in the northern Syrian province of Idlib. On March 20, 2012 the group detonated their IED (improvised explosive device), creating a crater in the road which, they hope, will slow down president Assad’s forces advance. Abu Suleiman’s unti is one of the multitude of armed groups fighting the regime in Syria.

FREDERIC LAFARGUE/AFP/Getty ImagesA rebel from Abu Suleiman's group of fighters prepares a pipe bomb, which will be detonated to cut road access to their mountainous stronghold.

FREDERIC LAFARGUE/AFP/Getty ImagesA bomb maker from Abu Suleiman's group of rebel fighters wires a pipe bomb, which was later detonated in order to cut access to their mountainous stronghold.

FREDERIC LAFARGUE/AFP/Getty ImagesRebels from Abu Suleiman's group of fighters detonate a pipe bomb to cut off access to their mountainous stronghold.

FREDERIC LAFARGUE/AFP/Getty ImagesAbu Suleiman, the leader of the rebel group, celebrates after detonating a pipe bomb that was used to cut road access to their mountainous stronghold.

FREDERIC LAFARGUE/AFP/Getty ImagesAbu Suleiman (L), the leader of the rebel group, celebrates after detonating an IED (improvised explosive device) that was used to cut road access to their mountainous stronghold.

FREDERIC LAFARGUE/AFP/Getty ImagesAbu Suleiman, the leader of the rebel group, assesses the damage after detonating a pipe bomb that was used to cut road access to their mountainous stronghold in the northern Syrian province of Idlib.

DUBAI – A bomb placed under a vehicle exploded near the British embassy in Bahrain’s capital Manama early on Sunday, but caused no casualties, the Gulf Arab state’s Interior Ministry said.

“Given the strength of the explosion and the debris it scattered, it was a highly explosive substance that was used,” a ministry spokesman said in comments on Twitter posted live from a news conference.

“The explosion was the result of a package placed under the front tire,” he said, adding there were no casualties. He described the vehicle as a minibus parked some 50 metres from the embassy compound.

Related

Bahrain has been tense since pro-democracy protests erupted in February following revolts in Egypt and Tunisia. The government imposed martial law for nearly three months and ordered mass detentions and trials to crush the protests.

The government, dominated by the Sunni Muslim Al Khalifa family, said the protests, led by majority Shi’ites, had sectarian motives and were fomented by Shi’ite power Iran.

A government-sponsored fact-finding commission headed by international rights lawyers said last month there was no evidence of Iranian interference but Bahrain said there was incitement by Iranian media.

A diplomatic crisis between Iran and Britain deepened last week after youths stormed the British embassy in Tehran in protest against banking sanctions Britain imposed over Iran’s nuclear energy program.

London withdrew its diplomats from Tehran and expelled Iranian diplomats from Britain, and other European countries withdrew envoys from Tehran in support of Britain. Iran denies that its nuclear program is aimed at developing nuclear weapons.

“We are working with the Interior Ministry and we have requested a temporary increase in security,” a spokesman at the British embassy said, adding the blast took place between 1 and 2 a.m. “There were no casualties or damage to the embassy. We cannot identify yet the cause or the responsibility.”

Dubai-based defence and security analyst Theodore Karasik said the blast could be the start of an escalation in the social conflict in Bahrain, where there are still almost daily clashes between Shi’ite protesters and riot police.

Shi’ites are marking the religious mourning rites of Ashura this week, commemorating the death of the Prophet Mohammad’s grandson Hussein.

“The timing is significant because it occurred during Ashura,” Karasik said. “What we might be seeing now is a cell or two that are being set up by disgruntled Bahraini Shi’ites who now use bombs to achieve their goals. It’s a jump to a new level.”

Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi was killed Thursday after an eight-month uprising. Here’s a look back at the life of the military strongman.

AFP/Getty ImagesPost 1969 picture of Libyan Head of State Colonel Moamer Kadhafi.

BENGHABIT/AFP/Getty ImagesLibyan Head of State Colonel Moammar Gadhafi (L) and Egyptian President Gamal Abdul Nasser (R, 1918-70) arrive together in December 1969 in Rabat prior the Arab Summit Conference.

AFP/Getty ImagesPicture dated July 1973 of Libyan Head of State Colonel Moamer Kadhafi (L) joking in Tripoli with a group of British hippies.

AFP/Getty ImagesLibyan Head of State Colonel Moamer Kadhafi (C) riding a horse in November 1975 in Tripoli.

JOEL ROBINE/AFP/Getty ImagesLibyan leader Moamer Kadhafi (L) and Senegalese President Abdou Diouf (R) wave to the crowd, on December 04, 1985 in Dakar, upon Kadhafi's three-day official visit to Senegal.

JOEL ROBINE/AFP/Getty ImagesLibyan Head of State Colonel Moamer Kadhafi (L) and his wife Suffiya (R) wave to the crowd 03 December 1985 in Dakar, followed by President of Senegal Abdou Diouf (2nd row-R) upon their arrival for three-day official visit to Senegal.

REUTERS/Kate Dourian/FilesLibyan leader Muammar Gaddafi smiles at his daughter Aysha during a news conference where he presented his family to U.S. female journalists inside his Bedouin tent erected in the heavily fortified Bab El-Assaria barracks on the outskirts of Tripoli in this January 12, 1986 file photo.

REUTERS/Kate Dourian/FilesLibyan leader Muammar Gaddafi looks on during a news conference where he presented his family to U.S. female journalists inside his Bedouin tent erected in the heavily fortified Bab El-Assaria barracks on the outskirts of Tripoli in this January 12, 1986 file photo.

JOEL ROBINE/AFP/Getty ImagesLibyan Head of State Colonel Moamer Kadhafi addresses journalists 02 February 1986 in Tripoli during a meeting of "The High Command of The Revolutionary Forces of The Arab Nation".

REUTERS/Rob Taggart /FilesLibyan leader Muammar Gaddafi waves to supporters as he gives a speech condemning the U.S. from a balcony at Bab al-Aziziya in Tripoli in this March 28, 1986 file photo.

REUTERS/Frederic Neema/FilesEgypt's President Hosni Mubarak (L) meets Libyan Leader Muammar Gaddafi at the Egyptian border city of Mersa Matrouh in this October 16, 1989 file photo.

REUTERS/Jon Bainbridge/FilesEgypt's President Hosni Mubarak (L) jokes with Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi upon his arrival at Benghazi airport in this August 27, 1991 file photo.

REUTERS/Aladin Abdel Naby/FilesLibyan leader Muammar Gaddafi (L) laughs as Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak jokes with photographers at the Egyptian border town of Sidi Barrani in this April 21, 1992 file photo.

REUTERS/Aladin Abdel Naby/FilesEgyptian President Hosni Mubarak (L) accompanies Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi on a tour at the pyramids of Giza in this January 19, 1993 file photo.

REUTERS/Pascal RossignolLibya's President Muammar Gaddafi (L) greets his counterpart from France Nicolas Sarkozy at Bab Azizia Palace in Tripoli July 25, 2007, the

REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi/FilesU.S. President Barack Obama stands with Libya's leader Muammar Gaddafi before a dinner at the G8 summit in L'Aquila in this July 9, 2009 file photo.

REUTERS/Zohra BensemraLibya's leader Muammar Gaddafi attends a celebration of the 40th anniversary of his coming to power at the Green Square in Tripoli September 1, 2009.

REUTERS/Mike SegarLibyan leader Muammar Gaddafi gestures at the end of his address to the 64th United Nations General Assembly at the U.N. headquarters in New York, September 23, 2009. Gaddafi, in his first ever address to the United Nations, on Wednesday accused the veto-wielding powers of the Security Council of betraying the principles of the U.N. charter.

REUTERS/Ismail Zetouny/FilesLibyan leader Muammar Gaddafi speaks during a ceremony to mark the 40th anniversary of the evacuation of the American military bases in the country, in Tripoli, in this June 12, 2010 file photo.

REUTERS/Louafi Larbi/FilesLibyan leader Muammar Gaddafi gestures from a car in Tripoli, after a meeting with a delegation of five African leaders seeking to mediate in Libya's conflict, in this April 10, 2011 file photo.

REUTERS/Reuters TV/FilesMuammar Gaddafi relaxes with his granddaughter in his tent at the Bab al-Aziziya compound in Tripoli in this file photo of a still image taken from an exclusive amateur video from 2005 obtained by Reuters on September 7, 2011.

]]>http://news.nationalpost.com/2011/10/20/moamar-gaddafi-dead-photos-june-7-1942-oct-20-2011/feed/2galleryTO GO WITH AFP PACKAGE ON THE 40TH ANNIVPost 1969 picture of Libyan Head of State ColonelGadhafi & NasserPicture dated July 1973 of Libyan Head of State CoLibyan Head of State Colonel Moamer Kadhafi (C) riLibyan leader Moamer Kadhafi (L) and SenLibyan Head of State Colonel Moamer KadhFile photo of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi smiling at his daughter Aysha during a news conference inside his Bedouin tent erected in the heavily fortified Bab El-Assaria barracks on the outskirts of TripoliFile photo of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi during a news conference inside his Bedouin tent erected in the heavily fortified Bab El-Assaria barracks on the outskirts of TripoliLibyan Head of State Colonel Moamer Kadhafi addresFile photo of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi waving to supporters as he gives a speech condemning the U.S. from a balcony at Bab al-Aziziya in TripoliFile photo of Egyptian President Mubarak meeting Libyan Leader Gaddafi at the Egyptian border city of Mersa MatrouhFile photo of Tunisian President Zine Al-Abdine Ben Ali welcoming Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi upon his arrival at Tunis airportFile photo of Egyptian President Mubarak joking with Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi upon his arrival at Benghazi airportFile photo of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Sidi BarraniFile photo of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak accompanying Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi on a tour at the pyramids of GizaLibya's President Gaddafi greets his counterpart from France Sarkozy at Bab Azizia Palace in TripoliFile photo of Obama and Gaddafi in L'AquilaLibya's leader Gaddafi attends a celebration of the 40th anniversary of his coming to power in TripoliLibyan leader Gaddafi gestures at the end of his address to the 64th United Nations General Assembly at U.N.headquarters in New YorkFile photo of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi speaking during a ceremony to mark the 40th anniversary of the evacuation of the American military bases in the country, in TripoliFile photo of Gaddafi and Frattini in RomeFile photo of Libyan leader Gaddafi attending the opening of the African Union summit in MunyonyoFile photo of Libya's leader Muammar Gaddafi adjusting his glasses on Margarita IslandFile photo of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi gesturing from a car in TripoliFile photo of still image taken from amateur video shows Muammar Gaddafi relaxing with his granddaughter at Bab al-Aziziya compound in TripoliInside Syria's security apparatus: A firsthand account of torturehttp://news.nationalpost.com/2011/05/26/inside-syrias-security-apparatus-a-firsthand-account-of-torture/
http://news.nationalpost.com/2011/05/26/inside-syrias-security-apparatus-a-firsthand-account-of-torture/#commentsThu, 26 May 2011 12:43:29 +0000http://news.nationalpost.com/?p=66963

By Suleiman al-Khalidi

AMMAN — The young man was dangling upside down, white, foaming saliva dripping from his mouth. His groans sounded more bestial than human.

It was one of many fleeting images of human degradation I witnessed during four days as an unwilling guest of Syrian intelligence, when I was detained in Damascus after reporting on protests in the southern Syrian city of Deraa.

Within minutes of my arrest I was inside a building of the intelligence services — known, as elsewhere in the Arab world, simply as the “Mukhabarat”. I was still in the heart of bustling Damascus, but had been transported into a macabre parallel world of darkness, beatings and intimidation.

I caught sight of the man hanging by his feet as one of the jailers escorted me to the interrogation room for questioning.

“Look down,” the jailer shouted as I took in the scene. Inside an interrogation room, they made me kneel and pulled what I could just make out as a car tire over my arms.

My reporting from Deraa, where protests against President Bashar al-Assad had broken out in March, had apparently not endeared me to my hosts, who accused me of being a spy.

The formal reason Syrian authorities gave Reuters for my detention was that I lacked the proper work permits.

That I was an established journalist working for Reuters, going about my professional business, was not an argument to men whose livelihood depends on breaking human dignity.

“So, you cheap American agent!,” the interrogator shouted.

“You have come to report destruction and mayhem. You animal, you are coming to insult Syria, you dog.”

From outside the room I could hear the rattling of chains and hysterical cries that echo in my mind to this day. My interrogators worked professionally and tirelessly to keep me on edge at every step of the questioning process over several days.

“Shut up, you bastard. You and your types are vultures who want to turn Syria into another Libya,” said another interrogator, who kept yelling: “Confess, liar!”

I had crossed the border from Jordan, where I have reported for Reuters for nearly two decades, on March 18, as unrest was first breaking out in Deraa. I spent most of the next 10 days reporting from that city. Inspired by the fall of Arab dictators in Tunisia and Egypt, the protests rapidly escalated into a grave challenge to the Assad family’s 40-year rule.

I was arrested on March 29 in Damascus as I went to meet someone in an old district of the capital. Two plain clothes security men approached me and told me not to resist as they held my arms and then marched me into a hairdresser’s until an ordinary-looking white car came to take me to the Mukhabarat. Interrogators showed particular interest in two aspects of my reporting — the fact that I had written about watching protesters burn images of late President Hafez al-Assad, father of the incumbent, and hearing chants attacking Maher al-Assad, brother of Bashar and commander of the Republican Guard.

Iron busts of Assad the father and portraits of the current president adorn the corridors and offices in buildings of the state security apparatus, part of a family personality cult recognizable to students of authoritarian rule the world over.

I felt my hosts wanted to give me, as a foreign journalist, a demonstration of the methods they use on Syrians. To brace myself for what might yet come and save myself from total breakdown, I tried to fix my mind on old childhood memories.

These mental games helped me avoid thinking of my young twins and wife back home in Amman, who had no way of knowing where I was, or even whether I was still alive.

The questioning lasted eight hours until midnight on my first day of detention. Mostly I was blindfolded, but the blindfold was removed for a few minutes. That allowed me — despite orders to keep my head down so that my interrogators should remain out of view — to see a hooded man screaming in pain in front of me.

When they told him to take down his pants, I could see his swollen genitals, tied tight with a plastic cable.

“I have nothing to tell, but I am neither a traitor and activist. I am just a trader,” said the man, who said he was from Idlib province in the north west of Syria. To my horror, a masked man took a pair of wires from a household power socket and gave him electric shocks to the head.

At other moments, my questioners could be charming, but would quickly switch to ruthless mode in what looked like an orchestrated performance to wear me down.

“We will make you forget who you are,” one of them threatened as I was beaten for the sixth time on my face. I could not see what hit me. It felt like fists. Twice in detention I was whipped on the shoulder, leaving bruises that stayed a week.

During intervals in the corridor, with my back against the wall and my hands in the air, I stood on display as at least a dozen security men jostled me and hurled abuse.

And yet humanity could appear at the unlikeliest moments.

At one point, the interrogator who was screaming at me that I was a dog (a particular insult to Arabs) took a call on his mobile phone. His tone became immediately warm and affectionate: “Of course, my dear, I’ll get you whatever you want,” he said, switching from professional torturer to indulgent father.

For long periods, I lay on a mattress in a windowless cell, lit by a small neon light, as cockroaches scurried around.

Occasional screams reminded me of where I was and what might happen. I was kept in solitary confinement and my jailers gave me a piece of dry bread or a potato and a tomato twice a day. When I wanted to go to the toilet, I would knock on the door of my cell. A jailer would then appear, though it could take over an hour to have my request met.

I thought of the thousands of people in Syrian prisons, and how they endured solitary confinement and constant degradation, many for decades. I thought of Russians I had read about in Siberian exile, and about the meaning of freedom, for Syrians and for other Arabs living under autocrats across the region.

I was not the first person there in the cell, of course. One of my unknown predecessors had carved an inscription on the wall, apparently with his fingernails.

“God against the oppressor,” it read.

My mind went back to the events in Deraa — the thousands of youngsters clapping in unison, shouting “Freedom”, and the expressions on the faces of the women, children and old men who came out to the streets to watch in a mixture of disbelief and euphoria, an electrifying spirit of defiance.

I saw how decades of fear sown in the hearts and minds of people was crumbling as hundreds of barechested young men braved bullets fired by security men and snipers from rooftops. I will never forget the bodies of men shot in the head or chest, carried through the blood-spattered streets of Deraa, and dozens of shoes left on the streets by youths running from gunfire.

Then on the fourth day of detention, my hosts came to move me, putting me in a car that whisked me to what turned out to be the intelligence headquarters several blocks away in Damascus.

It was a huge complex, with hundreds of plain-clothes security men in the courtyard outside, all with grim faces.

“Search every inch of him,” said one man as two others dragged me towards the basement.

I spent two hours in a cell where I reflected on how I would cope with imprisonment in the months ahead. Then I was brought into a room nearby. To my bewilderment an urbane man with an air of authority told me: “We are sending you back to Jordan.”

I realised later, from looking at pictures in the media, that this had been Major General Ali Mamluk, the director of Syrian State Security himself, a man whose subordinates hold thousands of Syrians in similar jails across the country.

He said my reporting from Deraa had been inaccurate and had damaged the image of Syria.

Within hours I crossed the border and was back home, where I learned that Jordan’s royal family had worked for my release and spared me from a longer and more gruelling fate. Other Reuters journalists were also expelled, some also after detention, and now Syria is effectively barred to most foreign media.

Nearly two months later, time has helped me absorb the impact of those four days, to the extent that I can record the experiences in writing. But I am haunted by the human cost of the Arab uprisings for people seeking the sort of freedoms which others elsewhere in the world take for granted.

]]>http://news.nationalpost.com/2011/05/26/inside-syrias-security-apparatus-a-firsthand-account-of-torture/feed/0stdA Syrian protester is silhouetted behind a Syrian flag during a demonstration against President Bashar Al-Assad in front of the Syrian embassy in Amman.Egypt uprising: Following the protests on social mediahttp://news.nationalpost.com/2011/01/28/egypt-uprising-following-the-protests-on-social-media/
http://news.nationalpost.com/2011/01/28/egypt-uprising-following-the-protests-on-social-media/#commentsFri, 28 Jan 2011 20:17:09 +0000http://news.nationalpost.com/?p=44983

Despite the Egyptian government’s attempts to block internet access, activists and protesters are still able to get information on the ongoing uprising online. Social media networks such as Twitter, Facebook and a number of online resources mean that the world can track the events in Egypt in real time.

Twitter

Journalists on the ground and activists have been sending live updates on the protests via Twitter. Supporters have been using hashtags #egypt and #jan25 to spread the news.

We’ve included a selection of tweets from journalists who are on the ground in Egypt in our embed below: